THE NARROW ROAD TO LIFE IN CHRIST. - Chapel Chat
Paul stresses in his epistles that to be a believer you need to be in Christ. He says this over 100 times in his epistles and ten times in the first chapter of Ephesians. In Christ we are forgiven, redeemed, accepted, chosen and sealed. Ephesians 1:4,6.7,13.
In the beginning we receive the seed of truth. This Word of God has power to draw us to real, life changing truth. We can ignore the seed, reject the seed, drown the seed or receive it. Matthew 13:18-23.
When we receive the seed, it causes us to turn (repent) to the righteousness of Christ and away from the sin that condemns us.
God is drawing all people to himself and when we turn to Him He is ready to lead us on.
The Spirit of God then steps in and seeks to convict us of our great sin, show us the righteousness of Christ in the gospel (His death, burial and resurrection) and declare the awful, fiery, judgment that awaits us if we refuse the Savior/God who paid such a huge price to save us.
When we come to understand (Matt. 13:33) the seed of truth, repent, believe God and receive Christ, God is ready to receive us with open arms and give us eternal life with Him. Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
When we are born again, we are put in that safe place, “in Christ.” He has put our sins away and made us totally free from that which condemned us. We can begin to enjoy life in Christ.
~Lewellyn Tewksbury, January 21, 2017